Let the Rain Come Down [The Moonlight Breed 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (read a book TXT) 📗

it had taken Demitrius a good ten minutes to realize that the vampire wasn’t blind, because Stavion hadn’t reacted at all to Demitrius’s huge size or animal-like features.

No, he didn’t like being alone. It was just easier that way. Could he really make a new start, a new life for himself here in Haven? Or would it just be the same old crap that he’d endured his entire life? There was only one way to find out.

“What exactly would this job entail?”

A satisfied grin spread across Stavion’s face as he held his hand out for Demitrius to shake. “Welcome to Haven, Demitrius Accola.”

* * * *

“Did you hear that?”

Three naked bodies huddled around Oscar near the back of the cave that had been their home for the last four nights. Zavion held a death grip on his elbow, shaking from head to toe so violently that his teeth clacked together. “It’s them. They found us. What do we do?”

“Hush,” Oscar breathed. “Just stay quiet.”

The sounds of boots crunching through the brush and rocks grew louder, nearing the mouth of the cave. He couldn’t really tell how many people were out there, but he was almost certain there were more than two. Tucked back into the darkest corner, he hoped they’d be hidden by the shadows, undetected by anyone who entered their hiding place.

If the people closing in on them were human, everything would be fine. If they were from The Hive, there was absolutely nowhere for Oscar and his friends to hide. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t afraid, but he honestly couldn’t believe that they’d been able to get as far as they had without being caught.

“Hello? Is someone here?”

Four enormous shadows blocked out nearly all of the sunlight, but Oscar breathed a little sigh of relief. The voice that called to them was in a heavy Irish accent, and no one from The Hive had any type of accent. Hell, they all kind of talked like robots in his opinion.

Still, he didn’t know if these strangers were friends or foes. Part of him was desperate for help, for a white knight to swoop in and save them. He had to be smart, though. Trusting blindly could very easily have lethal consequences, and as the unofficial leader of their group, he was responsible for more than just his own well-being.

“We can scent ya in there,” another man called, increasing Oscar’s anxiety once again.

If they could smell them, the newcomers definitely weren’t human.

“I’m hearin’ your hearts beatin’,” the third man added, which only increased the already frantic rhythm of Oscar’s pulse.

“We’re dead,” Zuriel whispered nervously. “We are so dead.”

“Shut up,” Zavion reprimanded in a hissing whisper. “They’re going to hear you.”

“They can hear our heartbeats,” Zuriel snapped, abandoning any attempt to keep his voice down. “It’s not like they can’t hear us whispering.”

Cicero closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his midsection as he pressed closer to the rock wall behind them. Other than the muffled sound of his growling stomach, he didn’t make any noise, and the trembling of his bottom lip was utterly heartbreaking. Oscar just didn’t know what to do about it.

“Now, no one is wantin’ to hurt ya,” the first man said kindly. “Come on out here.”

“Should we?” Zavion asked. “He said they won’t hurt us. Maybe they can help.”

“What is it that you’re needin’ help with?” The man on the far left shuffled a little deeper into the cave, keeping his hands aloft in a nonthreatening way. “My name is Cian Murphy. These are my brothers, Devlin, Farren, and Oisin. If you’re needin’ a place to go, I think we can help ya with that. We’re knowin’ a place where you’ll be safe.”

“Really?” It was too good to be true, but Oscar couldn’t stop the hope from bubbling to the surface. Shaking off the hands trying to hold him back, he crawled forward, blinking rapidly when the beams of sunlight felt like acid in his eyes. “You really know a place?”

“It’s a place in Wyomin’ called Haven.” Cian crouched down to Oscar’s level and held his hand out in offering. “You’ll be welcome there.”

They were hungry, tired, and dirty, and the nights were growing colder. The twins, Zavion and Zuriel, were little more than skin and bones, and Cicero hadn’t spoken a word since they’d escaped The Hive. Maybe it was a bad idea, but Oscar was out of options.

Placing his trembling hand in Cian’s, he glanced over his shoulder to his friends and then back to the mountain of a man in front of him. “I don’t know what to do anymore. If you can help, I’d really appreciate it.”

* * * *

They’d been living in the huge mansion in the Haven Coven for nearly two weeks, and Oscar still couldn’t believe the sheer size of the place. Rarely did he venture out of his room without an escort, but even his room was nearly triple the size of the closet-like place he’d shared with Cicero at The Hive.

Everyone he’d met had been very kind and accommodating. It was very odd, and Oscar kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. In his experience, people were never nice to him unless they wanted something in return. Still, he had clean clothes, real food to eat, and a warm bed all to himself. More importantly, his friends were taken care of, and he wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize that.

“Oscar?” There was a perfunctory knock on his door before it opened and Boston Mackey stepped inside.

“Is it time?” He and his friends were supposed to be meeting some people who knew a bit about their breed and were coming to help them adjust to life at Haven. Boston had been a member of their rather unconventional pack before he’d come to Wyoming to be with his mates.

“Yeah, it’s time. There’s no need to be nervous. Xander is a big guy, bigger even than most of the